Getting Support When Dealing With Menopause

Menopause isnâ€™t something a woman should go through alone. There are many questions to ask about the process and it is helpful to have them answered by reputable healthcare providers.
You can get support from your doctor, who can prescribe medications to decrease the frequency and severity of hot flashes and other symptoms.
Fortunately, you may be able to find some local support by attending a support group for women undergoing menopause. Many HMOs, and some hospitals and clinics will sponsor and set up support groups for women who are going through menopause and donâ€™t want to have to go through it alone.
Support groups can be ongoing or can last for just a short period of time; the shorter groups tend to be more educational and the longer groups tend to be more supportive.
It is critical to not isolate during this time, as depression and emotional turmoil is common.
National Resources
There are many organizations throughout the United States that offer education and support for women going through menopause.
The following is a list of places and organizations you can contact when you need support for your symptoms and if you have questions, your doctor cannot answer:
â€¢ Alliance for Aging Research. This is located at 2021 K Street NW, Suite 305, in Washington DC 20006. You can contact them by phone by dialing 1-202-293-3856. Their website is www.agingresearch.org.
â€¢ American Academy of Family Physicians or AAFP. Because family doctors care for menopausal women as part of their practice, this organization can be helpful to you. They are located at 11400 Tomahawk Creek Pkwy in Leawood, KS 66211-3672 and their phone number is 1-913-906-6000. They have a website and email address, which are www.aafp.org and fp@aafp.org, respectively.
â€¢ American Urogynecologic Association. They have information for women undergoing menopause and are located at 2025 M Street NW, Suite 800, Washington DC 20036. You can reach them at 202-369-1167. Their patient site is www.mypelvichealth.org and their main website is located at www.augs.org.
â€¢ American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Womenâ€™s Initiative. They are located at 601 East Street NW, Washington DC 20049. They have a toll free number, which is 1-800-424-3410. They have a website you can look at, which is located at www.aarp.org.
â€¢ American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists. They offer resources to women with menopausal symptoms and are located at PO Box 96920, Washington DC 20090-6920. Their toll free number is 1-800-227-2264. The website can be found at www.acog.org.
â€¢ American Cancer Society. They are located at 1599 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30329. Their toll free number is 1-800-227-2345.
â€¢ The North American Menopause Society. They have a wealth of information on menopause and its symptoms. They are located at 5900 Landerbrook Drive, Suite 390, Mayfield, OH 44124. Their toll free number is 1-440-442-7550 and their website is located at www.menopause.org.
â€¢ National Cancer Institute. They are located at Building 31, Room 10A03, 31 Center Drive, MSC 2580, Bethesda, MD 20892-2580. Their phone number is 1-301-435-3848 or you can reach them toll free at 1-800-422-6273 (1-800-4-CANCER).
â€¢ American Association for Reproductive Medicine. They are located at 1209 Montgomery Highway, Birmingham, AL 35216. Their phone number is 1-205-978-5000 and their web page is at www.asrm.org.
â€¢ The National Institute on Aging. They can be found at Building 31, Room 5C27, 31 Center Drive, MSC 2292, Bethesda, MD 20892. They have a phone number, which is 301-496-1752, and a toll free number, which is 1-800-222-4225. Their web site is located at www.nih.gov/nih.
â€¢ National Osteoporosis Foundation. They are experts in managing the osteoporosis related to menopause. You can reach them at 1232 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20037. They have a web site located at www.nof.org.
â€¢ National Library of Medicineâ€™s MedlinePlus. They have places where you can research the latest material on menopause. They have a web site, which is http://medlineplus.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/menpause.html. You can also email them at custserv@nlm.nih.gov.
â€¢ Office on Womenâ€™s Health at the US Department of Health and Human Services. They can be located at 200 Independence Ave, SW Room 712E, Washington, DC, 20201. You can call them at 202-609-7650 or log onto their website at www.womenshealth.gov.
â€¢ OBGYN.net. These people are experts at all of womenâ€™s productive issues and can be reached at their web site, which is www.obgyn.net.
â€¢ National Womenâ€™s Health Resource Center. They are located at 157 Broad Street, Suite 315, Red Bank, NJ 07701. They have a toll free number, which is 877-986-9472. Their web page is www.healthywomen.org.
â€¢ The Hormone Foundation. Here you can get help if you have questions on hormone replacement therapy. They can be found at 8401 Connecticut Ave, Suite 900, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. Their toll free number is 1-800-HORMONE FREE. They have a web page at www.hormone.org.
Donâ€™t forget local resources such as talking with other women of your age who are probably already experiencing many of the effects of menopause as you are.